ALEXANDRIA, VA-Colorectal cancer is on the rise in younger adults. The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts and Figures 2024 report shows that while incidence rates have decreased in adults aged 65 and older, they have increased by 1% to 2% each year in individuals under 55. Mortality rates have also increased by about 1% per year since the mid-2000s in this younger population.
Timothy Cannon, MD, Co-Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, has seen this growth firsthand.
“Obviously, the statistics demonstrate that, and my experience has borne it out. In the last week, I’ve seen three new patients under age 40 that had stage IV colon cancer and so it is happening more and more,” he said.
While the exact cause of this increase has not been proven, there are a number of studies underway trying to help determine what may be contributing to it. For example, research recently published in the international gastroenterology journal, “Gut,” found that ultra-processed foods and seed oils used in packaged food may contribute to chronic inflammation, which plays a major role in colorectal cancer tumor growth. While this adds to the growing body of work in this area, Dr. Cannon said the true link to ultra-processed foods and colorectal cancer is “yet to be determined.”
“I do think this article provides a plausible way that ultra-processed foods could affect colon cancer,” the doctor said. “Now, ultra processed foods is one of many explanations that that have been studied for this phenomenon of young onset colon cancer.”
In trying to reduce a person’s risk for colorectal cancer, Dr. Cannon warns that, “At least part of the reason one gets cancer is a genetic event which can be somewhat random.” So there is no way to fully ensure avoidance of the disease. However, he also noted that studies have also shown that changes in diet like eating more fiber and tree nuts can help modify risk.
“Most of the things that are good for your heart, low sugar, low fat, less red meat, are the kinds of things that would probably be good for cancer as well, and in some cases that has been demonstrated in clinical trials,” said Dr. Cannon.
He also stressed the importance of regular colonoscopies to detect any cancer early. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that average-risk individuals between the ages of 45 and 75 receive a colonoscopy every ten years. Cannon said this is critical to removing polyps before they turn into tumors and detecting cancer in stages I-III when it is more likely to be successfully treated.
“If you are up to date with your colonoscopies, you are much more likely to catch any cancer at an early stage and colonoscopies save thousands of lives every year in our country,” he said.
For someone under the age of 45, Cannon recommends seeing a gastroenterologist if there are concerning and pervasive symptoms. “For instance, if you’re bleeding from your stool,” he said, “don’t assume it’s a hemorrhoid. Go get it checked out by a doctor.”
“In most places, it is possible to get a colonoscopy if you’re having bleeding, prolonged pain, or unexplained weight loss,” he said “When you have one of those three symptoms, it really does merit a discussion with a physician,”
